15 Jun 2018

ACT Minister for Mental Health, Shane Rattenbury, officially announced the formal establishment of the Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing.

The Office will be known as the Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing in recognition of how our lifestyles shape our mental welfare. The ACT Government is committed to an integrated approach to promoting mental wellbeing and suicide and self-harm prevention and the new Office would develop a renewed vision for mental health in the ACT. it will prepare a practical mental health reform work plan within 100 days.

The establishment of the office recognised that people were frustrated by some cracks in the system, including the realisation that the service system needed to make sure it was keeping up with demand.

The model for the Office was developed in consultation with the community, mental health consumers and carers, mental health organisations, peak bodies and ACT Government agencies and was informed by similar offices established in Australia and overseas.

Key features of the Office

Creating a new, Territory-wide vision for mental health and suicide prevention in the ACT through a process of collaboration and co-design.

Developing a more holistic approach across mental health care to ensure that people experiencing poor mental health can access the most appropriate services and supports at the right place and the right time.

Collaborating closely with other agencies, including health services, primary care, housing, employment, community services, justice, community safety, police, education, and social inclusion.

Facilitating opportunities to address the social determinants of mental health and promoting an integrated and coordinated response by ACT Government funded services.

Next steps in establishing the Office

Release on 14 June 2018 of the consultant’s report that underpins the model for the Office, as well as the Government’s response to the report’s recommendations.

A small team of staff are commencing in the Office today and formal recruitment of additional staff for the Office has commenced.

A nation-wide recruitment process for the Coordinator-General will commence shortly.

With the establishment of the Office, the team will work with a cross-directorate Stewardship Group to start progressing development of an initial workplan. The workplan will be delivered within 100 days of the Coordinator-General commencing, and then be further developed through a community co-design process.

A priority over the coming months will be raising awareness of the role of the Office and continuing to engage with and build relationships across Government and community stakeholders to inform the development of the vision and the workplan.